Imaging lipid changes in Alzheimer's brains with expanded microscopy
Lipid imaging expansion microscopy to study Alzheimer's disease
This project uses a powerful new microscopy method to map how fats (lipids) change in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and those with the APOE4 genetic risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298973 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use expansion microscopy to physically enlarge brain tissue so they can see lipid structures in cells in much finer detail than usual. They will examine human Alzheimer's brain samples, disease models, and cells with different APOE genes to map where lipids accumulate in neurons and glial cells and how those changes relate to amyloid, tau, mitochondria, and ER contact sites (MAMs). The team focuses on lipid droplets, cholesterol, and membrane microdomains (lipid rafts) and how these are altered by the APOE4 risk variant. By combining detailed imaging with genetic models, the work aims to link visible lipid changes to known Alzheimer's pathways and identify markers or mechanisms that could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with Alzheimer's disease or individuals known to carry the APOE4 risk variant—especially those willing to donate brain tissue, blood, or cell samples—would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without Alzheimer's symptoms or known genetic risk and those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this laboratory-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new biological targets or biomarkers by showing precisely where and how lipid changes contribute to Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked lipid alterations and APOE4 to Alzheimer's and shown lipid droplet and cholesterol buildup in cells, but using expansion microscopy to map these changes at high resolution is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyden, Edward S. — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Boyden, Edward S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.